Hebrews 11-12

Can close "listening" to a biblical text include a suggestion of how the biblical author could have improved his presentation of the idea in the passage? That is the question I have been mulling since Sunday morning, when I heard a sermon on Hebrews 11:29-12:2. The sermon was a typical three point "go get 'em" type-of-sermon, amply illustrated through stories of dogged persistence that paid off. It wasn't a bad sermon; indeed, the stories were well-told and the sermon impeccably delivered. Yet, I found myself listening not so much to the sermon as to the text.

I found myself trying to follow the twists and turns of the text in order to learn why it was so powerful for me. The passage is a memorable one because the author brings his discussion on faithful Israelites to a stunning peroration by suggesting that the biblical heroes of faith are awaiting our faithfulness in order that they would be "made perfect," 11:40. Then, as we move to Heb. 12, the author continues his thoughts by exhorting us to run the race before us. We don't do so alone; the screaming crowd of faithful supporters is all around us.

But as I was looking at the text to discover the secret of its power for me, I also began to notice what I felt were flaws in the author's presentation of ideas. At first I stopped myself and asked whether a faithful, but critical, reading of the text could allow my mind to go down that road. I finally decided (only today--Wednesday) that it could. Of course it could; the mind reflecting on text has to be free to go where the mind wants. Even if imaginative pictures and fantasy take over our minds, an argument could be made that we sometimes discover the world better through imagination rather than simply through textual or dictionary work.

With these thoughts in mind, let's turn to the text, from the NRSV, and follow its thoughts. I think that the text has two moments which I call "Oops Moments," where the author realizes he has overextended himself and quickly tries to "change gears." I will lay those out, with a suggestion for how the author could have improved his presentation. Perhaps the reason why Hebrews isn't as widely read as it deserves is because of this occasional "sloppiness" of the author...

Hebrews 11:29-12:2

"By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34q uenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, without us, be made perfect. 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God."

The next essay probes these two "Oops" moments.

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